The Inside Scoop: How We Make Free to Breathe Happen

Up until last year, I didn’t realize how much was involved with planning an event like Free to Breathe Chelmsford. I’ve participated in dozens of 5Ks and similar events, but I would just sign up, raise money and participate. I never noticed everything that was going on behind the scenes and all of the work that went into the event in the months leading up to it. Last year I helped with organizing Free to Breathe Chelmsford, but as this is my first year as event chair, I continue to learn all of the details involved with organizing an event like this.  

The interesting thing about Free to Breathe Chelmsford is that it’s completely volunteer organized and run. Everyone from the planning committee to the event day help are all volunteers. The staff at the National Lung Cancer Partnership do a phenomenal job with helping and guiding (and I cannot thank them enough for their support!!!), but most things are done at the local level by the few volunteers that really want to see this event pan out.

Believe it or not, planning for our September 30 event starts about nine months before hand. Every detail, big or small, must be worked out. In the beginning months, this includes securing a date and venue and getting police department approval. After taking into consideration what type of event we want to have and what we want the event atmosphere to be like, it’s on to seeking sponsorships and donations and promoting the event to the public, which are tasks we will continue to tackle up until the day of the event. The tasks that need to be completed before event day continue to grow, especially as the event gets closer. There is never nothing to do!

At times it can be overwhelming and exhausting.  The number of companies willing to donate and help can sometimes be disappointing and discouraging. At times I wonder what I was thinking when I volunteered to take this on, but then I remember being at the event last year, surrounded by friends and family, and many others who were all there for the same reason. We were all there because we had been affected by lung cancer and because we wanted to make a difference. And because of the Free to Breathe event series and the National Lung Cancer Partnership, we CAN make a difference. The atmosphere at the event was emotional, but encouraging and exciting. Seeing everyone come together to radiate so much hope is what keeps me coming back. Being able to see the final event and everything all come together is all worth it in the end, despite any frustration and setback I experience along the way.

This Thursday, June 21^st, we are having our second planning meeting at the The Java Room in Chelmsford at 7pm. If you are interested in helping our event in any way, in any capacity or if you just want to learn more about Free to Breathe or the National Lung Cancer Partnership, please feel free to join us or contact me for more information (Rebecca.Jacobson@hotmail.com).